Therapeutic apparatus



M. R. WAGGONER.

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man APR. 19. 1921.

1,399,676. A Patented Dec. 6,1921.

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, uuireo STATS MELAIN'CTI-ION Bl WAGGONER, 0F CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed llpril 19, 1532i. Serial No. 462,569.

To all whom it may concern: a

lie it known that lvlnmnorrioiv ht. "WAG- eons-n, citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, has, invented certain new and useful Improvements in Therapeutic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, T 1

Thus invention relates to improvements in therapeutic apparatus especially adapted for use in treating prostate or bladder discases, and one of the particular objects of the invention is to provide a supporting stand for the body of the patient which will position the hips higher than the shoulders for thepurpose hereinafter set forth.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stand which is simple in construction and adapted for use upon a table or like support. 1

These and other objects hereinafter set forth are attained by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved apparatus, and a Fig. 2 is a view showing the device mounted upon a table and-with a patient Similar reference numerals in all of the figures of the drawing designate like parts.

In the treatment of prostate or bladder diseases, one of the most important points is, that when applying the treatment the patient should be in such a position that the hips are higher than the shoulders. This favors the return flow of blood from the inflamed swollen parts, and in those enlarged prostate cases, this position is the best for the passage of the urine, in as much it allows the urine to escape by the middle lobe of the prostate glandwhich projects into the bladder in this type of cases.

l The followingdescribed apparatus is de signed to take advantage of this point and to apply at one and the same time four valuable therapeutical agents, viz., First, the diathermic high frequency current, which has prov-en to be one of the best methods in treating these cases. Second, biers hyperemia Third, nerve stimulation by the means of the combined electric current and rectal dilation, and fourth, heat by the means of the hot water contained by the apparatus and radiations over the buttock from a high powered incandescent light. Used in this way with the patient in the above described position, (semi-kneechest), fully 90% of bladder and prostate cases may be cured.

The apparatus comprises a stand formed with an upwardly curved top 5 mounted on suitable legs 6, and provided with a reservoir or bowl '7 having at its front end an upwardly extending portion 8 which will be termed the crotclrextension. The body of the device is preferably formed of aluminum or other light-weight material which is a good conductor of electricity, and the top or supporting plate 5 is convex on its upper side and formed with two curves each having a different radius, and with its highest point approximately at a point one third its length from its read end. The bowl-shaped reservoir 7 is preferably located nearer the rear edge of the top 5, and the crotch-extension is located at the rear side of the reservoir and with its front edges extending upwardly from the top 5 at a point in front of the rear edge 9 thereof. This bowl-shaped reservoir is adapted to hold hot-water, and above the water-level, and extending backwardly from the crotclrextension is a suction plug 10, provided with a gage 11, and an air-vent valve 12. To the suction plug 10 is detachably secured one end of a rubber-hose 13, which at its other end is secured to any suitable suction-pump, such as the faucet attachment shown at 14 in the drawing. The bowl is also provided with a terminal plug 15, to which is secured one end of a wire 16 that leads to a high-frequency machine 17, and attached also to machine 17 is another wire 18 that is connected to a rectal speculum 19, which, when inserted into the body of the patient, completes an electrical circuit through the rectal speculum, to the prostate and bladder, and down throughthe patients privates to the water in the reservoir, and then through terminal 15 and wire 16 to the high-frequency machine.

A. drainage cook 20 is provided at the underside of the bowl to draw off part or all of the water during the treatment or afterward respectively.

In operation, after the patient is inclined in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the rectal speculum is inserted and dilated as far as is comfortable. Either before or after the rectal speculum is inserted, but while the patient is on the stand, the

suction pump is started to create a partial vacuum'between the surface of the water and the portions of the body which fit air-tight against the edges of the bowl and the crotchextension. When the desired vacuum is produced and which will be indicated by the gage 11, the electric current is produced and flows through the circuit above described.

It is understood that the water used during the treatment is heated to any desired temperature, preferably hot, and the waterlevel in the bowl is such that portions of the body will depend therein. 7 V

Air-valve 9 is used to relieve the vacuum when desired, so the suction plug 10 must always be above the water-level in the bowl.

The stand part of the apparatus is designed with short supporting legs 6, so that it can be used upon an ordinary table which electrical-wire connection to the exterior of the reservoir.

2. Inan apparatus of the kind described,

a stand provided with a top formed with a convex upper surface whose curve is more vertical at the rear-portion than at the front portion, a reservoir depending from said top and having an open upper end to receive the abdomen of the patient, a suction tube connected to said reservoir in a plane above the water-level thereof, and means for attaching an electrical wire connection to the exterior of the reservoir.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, a stand provided with a top formed with a convex upper surface having its highest point nearer its rear-edge than to the front edge, a reservoir depending from said top and having an open upper end to receive the abdomen of the patient, a. suction-tube connected to the reservoir in a plane above the water-level thereof, and means for at- V taching an electrical-wire connection to the exterior of the reservoir.

4:. In an apparatus of the kind described, a stand provided with atop formed with a convex upper surface and having its highest point nearer to the rear-edge than to the front-edge, and with the curve between said highest point to the rear-edge formed more vertical than the balance of the curve of the top, a reservoir depending from said top and having an open upper end to receive the ab domen of the patient, a suction tube connected to the reservoir in a plane above the water-level thereof, and means for attaching an electrical connection to the body of the reservoir.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, a stand provided with a top to support the lower portion of the trunk of a person higher than the other portions of the body, a reservoir depending from said top and having an open upper end and provided at its rear-side with an upwardly extending crotch extension, the edges of said reservoir and crotch-extension adapted to form a seal against the body and legs of the patient, means for connecting a vacuum producing device with the interior of the reservoir, and means for establishing an electric circuit through certain parts of the patient, the reservoir, and the water contained therein.

6. In a device of the character described, a stand provided with a top plate for supporting the lower portion of the trunk of the patient, a reservoir depending from said topplate and having an open upper end, and provided at its rear-side with a crotch-extension, the edges of said reservoir and crotchextension adapted to form a seal against the body and legs of the patient, means for connecting a vacuum producing device with the interior of the reservoir, and means for establishing an electric circuit through cer tain parts of the patient, the reservoir, and the water contained therein.

7. In an apparatus of the kind described, a stand provided with a top-plate for supporting the lower portion of the trunk of a patient in a reclining position, a reservoir depending from said top-plate and having an open upper end, and provided at its rearside with a crotch-extension, the edges of said reservoir and crotclrextension adaptml to form a seal against the body and legs of the patient, means for connecting a vacuum producing device with the interior of the reservoir and including a vacuum-gage and a vent-valve, and means for establishing an electric circuit through certain parts of the patient, the reservoir, and the water contained therein.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signatum.

MELANCTIION R. VVAG GONER. 

